The Return Journey

Mao Dalang believed that if he had any other sons, they would all be taken by his parents to help others replace them in the army.

He did not know why his parents did not like him so much. Since he was young, he had eaten very little and worked very hard. Yet, his parents would even beat and scold him.

In the end, Rong Xiang could only compromise. He had promised Uncle Dalang that he would help look after Aunt Mao and Mao Daya.

After so many years, Rong Xiang had indeed done it. From time to time, he would secretly hand Aunt Mao two biscuits, and sometimes a chicken leg to satisfy the mother and daughter's cravings.

However, when the news of Mao Dalang's death reached the village, Liu Xianniang refused to accept Rong Xiang's kindness.

In the past, she had hope and thought that her husband would come back eventually. The debt she and her daughter owed would be returned to Rong Xiang when her husband came back.

However, ever since her husband died, she believed that a weak woman like her could not repay him. So, even if she was about to starve to death, she would never accept Rong Xiang's help.

Of course, Liu Xianniang did not tell her daughter about these things, so Mao Daya had no idea what Rong Xiang had done for her family.

"Thank you," Mao Xiaoyu said. She could only thank him in a low voice.

It seemed like today's harvesting journey had to end here. However, Mao Xiaoyu had already made up her mind. She would remember the route later and go up the mountain when she had the time.

She still had her mother to take care of at home, so she could only rely on this mountain to support her and her mother.

Since she had already taken over the body of the original owner, she would naturally take good care of the original owner's mother.

Rong Xiang's big hand rubbed the back of his neck. He had no experience with this kind of little girl.

Everyone in the village called him a jinx behind his back, and the village also strictly forbade the children from coming into contact with him. Among the few 'social' groups that he had, there were only the father and son, Mao Dalang and Mao Yilong.

Turning around silently, Rong Xiang tried to slow down his pace, afraid that the girl behind him could not keep up with his pace, and walked towards the water source not far from his mouth.

Mao Xiaoyu looked around as she walked, trying hard to remember the route.

About two hours later, Mao Xiaoyu finally saw the water source in the distance.

This person's physical strength was really too good. Mao Xiaoyu could only sigh at her own inferiority.

She was not a pampered girl. She had been practicing martial arts since she was young and had to undergo physical training every week. Moreover, she had changed her physique with the spirit spring water in the Space.

However, the mountain path was too difficult to walk on. It went up and down from time to time, and there was no flat ground at all.

Mao Xiaoyu did not know that Rong Xiang could reach home with his eyes closed. He was used to it.

If not for the fact that he wanted to send Mao Xiaoyu back to the village, he planned to camp in the mountains tonight. After all, he had only entered the mountains today and had only hunted two pheasants and one wild rabbit.

"Can you still hold on? We're almost there," Rong Xiang turned around and asked.

He now had a whole new level of respect for this little girl. She did not make a sound along the way, nor did she ask to stop and rest.

Of course, this was also the result of him deliberately slowing down his pace. If it was his usual speed, he would be able to reach here in just over an hour.

Mao Xiaoyu wiped the sweat off her forehead and shook her head. "No need. I'll rest when I get there."

With this action, Mao Xiaoyu wiped off the soil that she had disguised herself with, revealing her original dark and thin appearance.

At this moment, because she had been climbing for a long time, her cheeks were red. Rong Xiang did not know if there was something wrong with his eyes, but he actually thought that she was quite cute at this moment.

It turned out that Uncle Dalang's daughter was also quite good-looking. Why didn't he think so before?

The two of them sped up in silence and finally sat on a rock by the stream.

"Drink some water. We'll rest for an hour at most, then we'll be heading back." Rong Xiang brought back some water with a big leaf.

Fortunately, it was summer now, and the sun set late. Otherwise, it would be impossible to let the little girl rest for even an hour.

They had to go down the mountain today. Not to mention the impact of a man and a woman being together for a night, Rong Xiang was mainly afraid that Auntie Mao would be worried if she could not find her daughter.

As for the impact, he could just marry her. Anyway, he had already grown up and could get a wife!

He believed that Uncle Dalang would be happy to have him as his son-in-law!

Looking at Mao Xiaoyu drinking the water, Rong Xiang's face was instantly dyed with a suspicious blush.

Cough, cough, the little girl was so cute, what should he do if his hands were itching?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Mao Xiaoyu never thought that she could still attract a man with her current appearance.

"I'll go get you some food." Rong Xiang was afraid that the girl would notice his abnormality, so he turned around and went to clean up the food.

He did not ask the little girl what she liked to eat. Rabbits were a little thin, and they were not as delicious as chicken.

He quickly plucked the feathers and cleaned up the internal organs. By the time Mao Xiaoyu was done resting, the chicken was already on the fire.

Seeing the salt in front of Rong Xiang, Mao Xiaoyu resisted the urge to take out cumin and chili noodles.

It was not that she was stingy and did not want to share, but she did not know how to explain to the man opposite her why she was thrown on the mountain and why she had barbecue seasoning in her hand.

Moreover, she did not know if cumin and chili noodles really existed in this world.

Sigh, what a waste of a chicken. If only it was sprinkled with cumin and chili powder, it would definitely taste great.

She swallowed her saliva and said, "I really have to thank Brother Rong for today. If I didn't meet you, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to go home."

Rong Xiang shook his head. "There's only you and your mother. Be careful in the future."

Mao Xiaoyu nodded her head honestly. What she was thinking about now was how to split the family.

Even if she was a fool, she knew that it would be very difficult. After all, the Mao family was used to exploiting her and her mother. Free servants were so useful. How could they give her and her mother their freedom so easily?

Sigh, there was still a long way to go!

Rong Xiang lowered his head and rolled the roast chicken seriously. Mao Xiaoyu walked to the stream and looked around in boredom.

This man was really a taciturn person. seeing that he did not want to talk, she was better off being obedient and not annoying him.

It was not that Rong Xiang did not want to talk. At that moment, he was thinking about how to save Mao Daya and her mother from the sea of suffering.

All his assets were only a little more than ten taels of silver. He wondered if the two elders of the Mao family would find it too little!

While waiting for the roast chicken, Mao Xiaoyu dug up some wild vegetables that she knew from the nearby grass and threw them into her gray bag.

These were her and her mother's rations for the next few days. In a few days, she would see if there was an opportunity to go deep into the mountains and dig up some medicinal herbs.

"Daya, the roast chicken is done." Only the heavens knew how much courage Rong Xiang had to gather to call out Mao Xiaoyu's maiden name.